Literary Analysis Vocabulary

noun a detailed examination of the elements or structure of something, typically as a basis for discussion or interpretation

• The data analysis revealed interesting trends in consumer behavior.
• I did a quick analysis of the situation and it doesn't look good.
• I ran some numbers and did an analysis - turns out we're in trouble.
• Her analysis of the novel's themes shed light on the author's intentions.

noun a note of explanation or comment added to a text or diagram

• The researcher included detailed annotations in the footnotes of the academic paper.
• I added some notes in the margins as annotations for my own reference.
• I scribbled some quick notes as annotations in the book.
• The artist's use of color can be seen as an annotation on the canvas of life.

verb to attribute or credit to a particular cause, source, or origin

• Many historians ascribe the fall of the Roman Empire to a combination of internal weaknesses and external pressures.
• Some people ascribe his success to luck, but I think it's more about hard work.
• I don't know why she's always ascribing drama to everything.
• She likes to ascribe human emotions to her cat, saying he looks sad when he's really just sleepy.

noun a trivial objection or criticism

verb to make petty or unnecessary objections

• He would always find something to cavil about, no matter how well the project was executed.
• Stop caviling and just enjoy the movie.
• Why do you always have to cavil over every little thing?
• Her constant caviling was like a dark cloud hanging over the family gathering.

adverb chiefly is an adverb that means mainly or mostly

• The study focused chiefly on the effects of climate change on coastal communities.
• She spends her time chiefly on gardening and reading.
• I'm into gaming chiefly, but I also watch a lot of movies.
• His love for her was chiefly like a flame that never burned out.

noun a final decision or judgment; the end or finish of an event or process

adjective forming an end or finish

• In conclusion, the research findings suggest a strong correlation between exercise and improved mental health.
• So yeah, that's the conclusion we came to after analyzing all the data.
• To wrap it up, the bottom line is that we gotta start working smarter, not harder.
• As the sun set on the debate, the conclusion emerged like a bright light in the darkness.

verb to interpret or understand (a word or action) in a particular way

• It is important to construe the legal language accurately in order to avoid any misunderstandings.
• I'm trying to construe what my boss meant by that comment, but it's so vague.
• I can't construe why she's always so moody.
• Her silence could be construe as a sign of disapproval.

noun a collection of written texts, especially the entire works of a particular author or a body of writing on a particular subject

adjective related to a body or collection of written texts

• The researchers analyzed a large corpus of texts to identify common themes.
• I found a huge collection of old books in the library's corpus.
• I scrolled through a bunch of tweets in the corpus to see what people were saying.
• The artist's paintings form a corpus of his creative work over the years.

verb to indicate the faults or shortcomings of something or someone

• It is important to provide constructive feedback rather than criticize others.
• Don't be so quick to criticize, give them a chance to explain themselves.
• Stop hating and criticizing all the time, it's not cool.
• She criticized his every move like a hawk circling its prey.

adjective describing or relating to the literal or primary meaning of a word or expression

• The denotative meaning of the word 'dog' is a domesticated carnivorous mammal.
• I looked up the denotative definition of 'lit' and it means something is really exciting or excellent.
• In slang terms, 'lit' has a denotative meaning of being intoxicated or high.
• The denotative interpretation of the poem's imagery reveals deeper layers of meaning.

adjective not in agreement or harmony; conflicting

• The committee members were disaccordant in their opinions on the new policy.
• The team couldn't agree on a plan because they were disaccordant.
• The group was totally disaccordant about where to go for lunch.
• The colors of the painting were disaccordant, creating a jarring effect.

noun a component or constituent of a whole or one of the parts into which a whole may be resolved

• The periodic table organizes all the known chemical elements.
• Mixing different elements in cooking can create unique flavors.
• The DJ mixed in some new elements to the song, making it even better.
• The elements of a good story include strong characters and a compelling plot.

noun a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text

• The scholar's exegesis of the ancient text provided valuable insights into its meaning.
• I had to do an exegesis on that difficult passage for my literature class.
• I can't believe I have to write another exegesis for this course.
• Her exegesis of the situation helped shed light on the underlying issues.

noun the action of examining or investigating something thoroughly

• The company invested heavily in the exploration of new markets.
• We're going on an exploration trip to the mountains this weekend.
• Let's go on an exploration mission to find the best tacos in town.
• The novel takes the reader on an exploration of the character's inner thoughts and emotions.

verb to gather or collect gradually bit by bit; to gather information or material slowly and carefully

• She was able to glean valuable information from the research report.
• I tried to glean some tips from the cooking show to improve my skills.
• I managed to glean some juicy gossip from the conversation at the party.
• Through years of experience, he was able to glean wisdom and insight into human behavior.

verb to assign a date that is incorrect or inaccurate

• The document was misdated by the secretary, causing confusion among the team.
• Oops, looks like the date was misdated on the form.
• They totally messed up and misdated the contract.
• Her memories were misdated, making it difficult for her to piece together the timeline.

adverb used to emphasize a particular point or aspect, typically one that is important or significant

• The company's revenue increased notably after implementing the new marketing strategy.
• She is notably the best player on the team.
• That new restaurant downtown is notably lit.
• His leadership skills are notably a guiding light for the team.

noun the quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness

• Her perspicacity in analyzing complex data sets impressed the entire research team.
• I admire your perspicacity in understanding people's motives so quickly.
• Whoa, your perspicacity in picking up on subtle clues is on point!
• His perspicacity was like a sharp sword, cutting through the fog of confusion to reveal the truth.

adjective relating to the study of language and literature

• The philological study of ancient texts requires a deep understanding of language and historical context.
• My friend is majoring in philological studies, which means she spends a lot of time analyzing old texts.
• I never knew philological work could be so intense, it's like solving a linguistic puzzle.
• The philological approach to understanding relationships involves analyzing communication patterns and language use.

noun a person who studies the structure, historical development, and relationships of languages

• The philologist meticulously studied ancient texts to decipher their meanings.
• My friend is a total philologist - he can speak multiple ancient languages fluently.
• I never knew being a philologist could be so cool!
• As a philologist of emotions, she could interpret even the subtlest of feelings in others.

adjective prepossessed is an adjective that means to be already biased or inclined towards a particular opinion or feeling

• She was prepossessed with the idea of starting her own business.
• I'm prepossessed with the new video game that just came out.
• I'm totally prepossessed with that new song.
• His mind was prepossessed with thoughts of revenge.

adjective Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.

• The art critic dismissed the painting as pretentious and lacking in genuine emotion.
• She always talks about her expensive taste in wine, but I think it's just pretentious.
• Why is he always acting so pretentious around us?
• His pretentious attitude was like a thick fog, obscuring any genuine connection we could have had.

adjective of, belonging to, or characteristic of a high or exclusive social class; lofty and refined; esoteric or difficult to understand

• The rarefied air at the top of the mountain made it difficult to breathe.
• Only a few people have access to that rarefied level of society.
• Getting into that exclusive club is like entering a rarefied world.
• The artist's work exists in a rarefied realm of creativity.

noun a grant or payment made to support a student's education, awarded on the basis of academic or other achievement

• She was awarded a scholarship to study at the prestigious university.
• He got a scholarship to help pay for his college tuition.
• Dude, I heard she scored a sick scholarship for her sports skills.
• His hard work and dedication served as his scholarship to success in the business world.

noun A note added to a mathematical or philosophical work as an explanation or commentary

• In his research paper, the scholar included a scholium to provide additional clarification on his findings.
• I added a little scholium at the end of my essay to explain my point further.
• I threw in a scholium at the end of my presentation to make sure everyone understood.
• The scholium at the end of the book served as a guiding light for readers to interpret the deeper meaning of the text.

verb to separate and remove the larger pieces from a substance by passing it through a sieve or filter

• The archaeologist carefully sifted through the dirt to uncover ancient artifacts.
• I need to sift through my closet to find something to wear for the party.
• Let's sift through the options and pick the best one.
• It can be challenging to sift through all the information available on the internet.

noun a sign or indication

verb to be a sign or indication of; to mean or represent

• The color red can signify passion and love in many cultures.
• Wearing a wedding ring can signify that someone is married.
• His new tattoo signifies that he's part of a gang.
• The storm clouds signify trouble on the horizon.

noun a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them

verb None

adjective None

adverb None

pronoun None

preposition None

conjunction None

interjection None

article None

• The slave worked tirelessly in the fields under the hot sun.
• She's basically a slave to her job, working long hours without any breaks.
• He's always been a slave to fashion, constantly buying the latest trends.
• I refuse to be a slave to my fears, I will overcome them and live freely.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case, 'studious' describes someone who is diligent and hardworking in their studies

• The studious student spent hours in the library conducting research for his thesis.
• She's always been the studious type, never missing a class or assignment.
• Dude, you're so studious, always hitting the books and acing your exams.
• His mind was a studious sponge, absorbing every detail of the lecture.

noun a statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved

adjective relating to or involving a thesis

• The thesis of the research paper focused on the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
• I finally finished my thesis on the history of jazz music.
• I aced my thesis presentation on artificial intelligence.
• His actions spoke louder than any thesis he could have written.

adjective not having or showing good judgment; lacking discernment

• The undiscerning customer made a hasty decision without considering all the options.
• She's so undiscerning when it comes to choosing movies, she'll watch anything.
• I can't believe how undiscerning he is with his fashion choices, he'll wear anything that's trendy.
• His undiscerning taste in music shows that he lacks the ability to appreciate true artistry.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun, in this case 'unfacile' means not easy or difficult

• The task at hand is unfacile and will require careful planning.
• This job is unfacile, but I think we can handle it.
• I thought this game would be easy, but it's totally unfacile.
• Navigating through the maze of bureaucracy is an unfacile journey.

verb to analyze or examine (something) in great detail or to an excessive degree

• It is important not to overanalyse every detail when conducting a research study.
• Don't overanalyse your text messages, sometimes a simple response is all that's needed.
• Stop overthinking and overanalysing everything, just go with the flow.
• She tends to overanalyse situations, always looking for hidden meanings and motives.

noun a person who takes part in a discussion, especially as a leader or expert

• The discussant provided insightful feedback during the academic conference.
• The discussant shared some interesting points during the meeting.
• The discussant really dropped some knowledge on us.
• The discussant was like a beacon of knowledge in the discussion.

adjective coexisting or occurring in the same period of time

• The two events were coetaneous, occurring simultaneously.
• The movies came out at the same time, they were coetaneous.
• They were like twins, totally coetaneous.
• Their ideas were coetaneous, showing a strong connection between them.

adjective relating to or using a system of versification based on the number of stresses, or accents, in a line of verse and the number of syllables in each foot.

adverb not applicable

• The accentual-syllabic meter is commonly used in traditional English poetry.
• I struggle with understanding the accentual-syllabic structure of poems.
• I don't get why we have to learn about accentual-syllabic stuff in English class.
• The accentual-syllabic rhythm of the music filled the room with energy.

noun a particular meaning of a word or phrase, especially as contrasted with a related meaning

• The acception of the new policy was met with mixed reactions from the employees.
• I'm not sure if the acception of your idea will be approved by the team.
• I doubt the acception of that proposal will fly with the boss.
• The acception of her apology was a turning point in their relationship.

noun a state of agreement or harmony

• The accordancy of the new policy with existing regulations was thoroughly reviewed by the legal team.
• The accordancy of his story with the evidence just doesn't add up.
• I don't trust the accordancy of that guy's excuse for being late.
• The accordancy of their ideas created a harmonious balance in the project.

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate the manner or degree of something

conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence

• The project will be completed according as the timeline provided by the client.
• We'll finish the project according as the client's deadline.
• We'll get it done according as the client wants.
• Success will come according as we put in the effort and dedication.

noun a taste or flavor that is not immediately appealing to someone, but becomes more enjoyable over time as one becomes accustomed to it

• Some types of cheese can be an acquired taste for those not used to strong flavors.
• Sushi is definitely an acquired taste, but once you love it, you can't get enough!
• Durian fruit is an acquired taste - some people love it, while others can't stand the smell.
• Appreciating abstract art can be an acquired taste, as it may take time to understand and enjoy.